Chapter 3: The Dream

The Dream
Felicity felt her jaw drop as her wondering eyes took in the sight before her. Crowds of people all dressed the same, jostling for space, as a catchy song in the same baritone voice she had heard in Margaret’s car accompanied with thumping music, blared out from huge speakers dotted around the ground, assailing her ears and stopping her in her tracks. She felt an unfamiliar sensation of quickening of her nerves as her feet automatically started tapping to the beat. The crowd was swaying and stamping and clapping as it sang along. She suddenly realised that Margaret had disappeared into the sea of humanity as if engulfed by a wave.
As Felicity stood there undecidedly, much as one learning to swim would hesitate before jumping into the pool, she felt a surge of wild excitement exploding within her and laughing aloud she plunged into the crowd clapping and dancing merrily. She immersed herself totally in experiencing the vibrations of raw energy and unbearable anticipation swirling like a whirlwind all around her.
When she came to her senses, the music had stopped; the ground was almost in darkness except for some dim light from two lamp posts. The last few stragglers were wending their way towards the massive gates. Felicity looked around for Margaret but there was no sign of her. She suddenly felt cold and weary and slowly made her way towards the exit. There was turmoil of never-felt-before emotions within her which she could not name. One of the emotions was a great despondency – she had never come across such indifference from others on Planet Felicity where everyone took care of everyone else and they were like one big happy family. She looked up at the moon which seemed cold and remote in an overcast sky. She felt lost, lonely and helpless. As she made her way down the long winding road it started raining. Felicity started running as she desperately looked around for some sort of shelter before she got absolutely wet. She stubbed her toe on a stone and arms flailing wildly ran headlong into a person coming from the opposite direction. “Hey, hold on. Look out where you are going!” rang in her ears as she was held up by a pair of strong but gentle hands. She looked up into the saddest and kindest pair of eyes she had ever seen. There was a smile on the pleasant face of her saviour as he looked down at her curiously from his great height. “So what do you think you are doing at this time and this place my dear girl?” he questioned and without waiting for her reply he caught her hand and shouted “Let’s get into the house before we get wet.” Dragging her along, he started running towards a cottage which she had not noticed before, as it was standing in a copse deep in the woods bordering the road.
Her companion opened the door and escorted Felicity into a warm and cosy room with a welcoming fire burning brightly in the fireplace. The kind stranger helped her into a seat near the fireplace and took a chair facing her. She noticed that he had a royal bearing and noble features though he was simply clad. Felicity could not help noticing that his eyes still carried a trace of that deep sadness which she had seen before. He held out his hand and said “Let me introduce myself. I am Cedric.” As Felicity shook his hand she felt a deep trust for this young man. She said “I am Princess Felicity and I have come from Planet Felicity to visit your planet.” Cedric’s eyes lit up as he heard her answer and with sudden interest sharpening his voice he queried, “What brought you here to our planet?” Felicity took a deep breath and found herself recounting everything to him – her planet, her people, the happiness, peace, prosperity, love and caring, the natural beauty on Planet Felicity, her boredom with all this, wanting to experience something different and her wish being fulfilled. As Felicity described her experiences on Earth till now, her voice involuntarily became lower and her expression changed. Cedric watched her intently as different emotions flitted across her face. She could feel that he was listening to every word of hers with bated breath.
Felicity did not know how late it was when she finally stopped speaking. Cedric was looking pensively into the flames. He appeared very distant and she again got the vague feeling that his young shoulders were carrying a burden far beyond his years. Loath to break into his reverie, she timidly asked, “Won’t you tell me about yourself?” He shook himself out of his trance, looked at her and gave a weary smile. “Yes. I am still trying to come to terms with your description of your planet and your people and the reality of our planet as it is today. Princess, are you ready to face the facts about Mother Earth?” Felicity looked at him in astonishment, taken aback by the intensity in his eyes and the depth of pain and anguish in his voice. She could not bring herself to speak, but wordlessly inclined her head to signal assent.
There was a long pause during which Cedric appeared to be collecting his thoughts. And then he started speaking, “Since the first of time, before our ancestors even thought of time, first light reveals a treasure almost beyond imagination – the elegance of diversity and the rich tapestry of the natural world. Ours is also a world shaped by people, just like yours - by those who are strongly tied to the land and who draw from its bounty. They suffered during hard times, only to be renewed by the birth of each new generation. This is also a place our ancestors never could have dreamed of, with mega-cities of glass and steel, the home to expanding populations, powered by a global economy, and fueled by never ending images of consumption. Even when the sun gives way to the glow of neon, we've found a way to continue the frenzy – a way to freeze time – until we reach the very edge of night. Yet all too often first light brings a more sobering reality – perhaps all is not well with the state of the planet earth. If I had to use one word to describe the environmental state of the planet right now, I think I would say precarious. It’s in a very precarious situation right now. Today our planet is faced with seemingly unprecedented environmental challenges.” Felicity was listening with rapt attention, trying to understand a situation which seemed so alien to her.
Cedric continued eagerly, as if the very act of sharing his burden with someone who was willing to listen and at least trying to understand, was healing in itself. “Princess, as I was listening to your description about your planet and your people, I was struck by the irony of the situation. Today, we are desperately in search of and badly in need of exactly what is available on your planet. The very things which seem so boring to you today, are the things we have lost – humanity, sensitivity to nature and the planet, to the flora and the fauna. We are so busy living life in a narrow self-centred groove that we are drying up all of Mother Nature’s resources with nary a thought for the future generations.”
“The state our world is in today, is the fruit of the seed of destruction which has taken root in the human mind from god knows how many millions of years ago. We humans have become so myopic that we do not even realise that we are well and truly on the path of self-destruction. Yet, there is some hope my dear friend! There are still some groups of people all over the world who are doing all within their power to heal our planet and our people – but they are too few in number and the time is too short.” Cedric ended on a poignant note. Felicity felt her heart reach out to this beleaguered planet and its people. She felt wetness on her cheeks. She touched her face and stared in wonder at her moist fingers – she had never seen tears in her life…………
She could hear a far away voice calling her insistently by name, “Princess Felicity, wake up! You have never slept so long. Your father the King has sent for you. Something very important has come up.” Felicity woke up with a start and found herself on her tree-house. The moon had long since disappeared and the sun was happily beaming down on her. She rubbed her eyes unbelievingly and stared at her friend Faith, “How did I get back here?” she questioned “What? You must have been dreaming my girl. Now do get ready and come. The king is waiting for you.” Her mind in a complete whirl, Felicity got dressed and followed Faith to the Palace tree where the King was holding court. She could sense a feeling of suppressed excitement in the air. The King smiled at her and directed her to a seat next to him. “Come my dear. We have been waiting to give you some thrilling news. Our scientists have been able to intercept signals which are coming from some planet in another galaxy far away from ours. The inhabitants of this planet call themselves humans and the name of their planet is Earth. They seem to be in urgent need of help.”